D Number 10
March 7, 2011
 
 

M I N U T E S

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
College of Letters and Sciences
Meeting of March 3, 2011

    PRESENT:  Ellen Davis, Paul House, Pilar Melero, Angela Harlan, David Cartwright, Jolly Emrey, Elizabeth Olson, Paul Adogamhe, Ellie Schemenauer, Debra Heiber and Elizabeth Hachten, Chair

    1. The minutes of the December 9, 2010 meeting were approved as distributed.
    2. Announcements: The secretary announced that the College of Education Curriculum Committee only meets on the second Tuesday of the month and proposals are due on the first Tuesday. Therefore, departments need keep this in mind when submitting BSE proposals especially before effective date deadlines.
    3. Emrey/Davis moved to approve the change in the College of Letters & Sciences Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements which requires students who graduate in 2012 or after to take a foreign language placement test rather than automatically be given credit for high school foreign language. Question were raised about staffing in light of the current state budget issues. The chair stated that we should go forward until we hear that staffing cannot be met. The motion passed unanimously.
    4. Emrey/Schemenauer moved to approve the new course INTRNAR 101 " Orientation to International Studies Major." The motion passed unanimously.
    5. The chair informed the committee that next fall would be a catalog update year. Since we have several new faculty on the committee, Dr. Hachten explained what this entailed and suggested that departments should begin reviewing their courses and programs to correct any errors or to make any necessary changes this semester. She also explained the continuation of inactive course exercise. She stated that if a department wanted an inactive course (one that had not been taught for 5 years or longer) continued, an updated syllabus would be required with the justification as to why the course should be continued. Dr. Hachten stressed that updating the catalog should be a department effort and should not just be the committee member's responsibility.
    6. The Dean of Letters & Sciences requested that the committee discuss the Diversity requirement in light of the Inclusive Excellence Initiative and the incidents on campus last fall. Do our courses address current diversity issues? What do we want students to learn from the diversity requirement? When Design for Diversity was initially instituted by System, diversity was focused on racial diversity namely, African Americans, Chicanos, and Native Americans. Members feel that diversity today, should include all marginalized groups and not just racial groups. The discussion concluded that the definition of diversity should be a campus-wide discussion.
    7. The meeting adjourned on a Olson/House motion.

    Respectfully Submitted


    Elaine Wagner, Secretary